The St. Petersburg City Council unanimously approved a $5.1 million contract on Feb. 6 to bolster flood protection for neighborhoods surrounding Lake Maggiore, which faced severe inundation during Hurricane Milton.

As part of Mayor Ken Welch’s post-storm St. Pete Agile Resiliency plan, city officials accelerated the design-build project. Miami Beach-based Ric-Man Construction will handle preconstruction work for the Basin C Resiliency Salt Creek Outfall Pump Station.

This initiative aligns with broader efforts to transform vacant land along Salt Creek into a nature preserve—another project that won unanimous approval at the same meeting. Brejesh Prayman, the city’s engineering and capital improvements director, highlighted the vast scale of the stormwater basin, describing it as a natural topographical depression that collects runoff from surrounding areas.

“Excessive rainfall from neighboring basins flows into this already large area,” Prayman explained. “Now, it’s also absorbing water from all of its neighbors.”

The Basin C project is a key component of the city’s Stormwater Master Plan, along with efforts in Shore Acres—both identified as high-priority flood zones.

Expanding the Lake Maggiore Drainage Initiative

The broader Lake Maggiore drainage plan includes four major projects totaling $47.3 million:

• Bartlett Lake dredging – $3.5 million
• Salt Creek channel improvements – $1.8 million
• A new pump station near 18th Avenue and 4th Street South – $30 million
• A secondary outfall gate into Lake Maggiore – $12 million

Design work for the dredging and channel improvements is nearly complete, while officials have expedited the pump station and outfall gate. The pump station’s proposed capacity has been increased in response to Hurricane Milton’s impact, and a bypass pipe will be installed to compensate for road constraints that prevent widening Salt Creek.

Land Acquisition for Flood Mitigation and Green Space

To support the project, the city will purchase nearly three acres of vacant land along the creek for $2.9 million. Councilmember Gina Driscoll, a longtime advocate for preserving this property at 4th Street, 18th Avenue, and 17th Avenue South, sees the acquisition as an opportunity to create additional green space amid rapid urban development.

City administrators also recognized the potential for flood mitigation and environmental education, making the purchase a strategic investment.

At a Jan. 23 committee meeting, Mike Jefferis, the city’s community enrichment administrator, outlined plans for the new park. The space will feature a walkway, lamps, benches, street landscaping, and a structure housing the pump station. Salt Creek will divide the area into a marshland preserve with native plants, serving as both a natural habitat and a flood barrier for nearby homes.

“It’s a win-win in our eyes,” Jefferis told the Committee of the Whole.

At the Feb. 6 meeting, Driscoll expressed excitement about the project, stating she “couldn’t be happier” and looks forward to seeing the transformation. Council Chair Copley Gerdes called it an “all-around team effort.”

Future Flood Protection

The city has already secured a $10.75 million grant for the $30 million pump station. A 66-inch force main pipe will transport floodwaters from a control gate upstream, east of 3rd Street, to the new underground facility.

This system will allow officials to better regulate water levels in Salt Creek and Lake Maggiore during heavy rainfall or storm surges. Prayman also emphasized that restoring wetlands and natural habitats will improve water quality while reducing flood risks.

Relocating the flood control gate closer to Tampa Bay will further enhance efficiency. “Right now, the gate is on Lake Maggiore,” Prayman explained. “Moving it closer to open water lets us control water levels in Lake Maggiore and the channel much more effectively.”

Ultimately, Prayman assured residents that the new system will not negatively impact them but will provide significant flood relief throughout the stormwater basin.

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(Image credit: WTVT)